The royal barge on which the Queen and Prince Philip sailed down the Thames in
June's Diamond Jubilee Pageant has been sold at a loss.

The royal barge, the Spirit of Chartwell, which received a million pound makeover for the event, has been sold to a buyer in Portugal where it will be used for tourist trips.

Its owner Philip Morrell said he had sold the vessel at a loss after being unable to reach agreement to sail along part of the Thames. The vessel's berth in Central London had also been lost because of the Olympics.

He said: "I am sad she has gone but we faced difficulties which made it unviable to use her on the River Thames. Without revealing figures the boat has been sold for half what I paid for her".

The 64-metre long luxury river cruiser , owned by his Magna Carta Steamship Company, was given an ornate gilded bow and decked in red, gold and purple for her Royal role.

It was towed away from Ramsgate Harbour, Kent, for the voyage to Portugal earlier this week. There she will become a cruise boat on the Douro River.